CAPE TOWN. – Their goal is to qualify for the Champions League Twenty20 again, as they have some unfinished business in India, said Dane Vilas, middle-order batsman and wicketkeeper of the Nashua Cape Cobras.

Vilas has scored 1389 runs at an average of 34.72 and a strike-rate of 122.81 in domestic T20-cricket, a testimony to his skills and quality. Vilas spoke to the Cape Cobras-website on Thursday during training at the Bishops Indoor Centre. Asked about the success of the Cobras this season, Vilas said the team that finished at the summit of the Momentum One Day Cup competition after five matches, has been brilliant. Management has spoken about the need of the top-four or –five batsmen to bat through and to be greedy. Andrew Puttick has been inspirational and has set the tone for the team with his 394 runs. The least runs he scored in an innings was 55, said Vilas. Asked about criticism that the middle-order did not always build on the powerful early surges by the openers, Puttick and Richard Levi, Vilas said the squad boasts good experience between number five and number seven for the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge, which will start on Sunday at the Bidvest Wanderers Stadium. He said collectively, he, Justin Ontong and Kieron Pollard have played many games in domestic T20-cricket. There is so much quality and depth in the Cobras batting line-up that if the openers and number-3 batsmen start well, the order can be changed and Ontong sent in, as he can blast from the start. He is also confident about the variety and depth in the bowling attack. Mthokozisi Shezi and Dane Paterson are good death bowlers, while the left-arm spin bowler GF Linde and the off-spinners SA Enbelbrecht and Ontong offer something different. Rory Kleinveldt is a South African opening bowler. Vilas said he has worked extensively with the coach Ryan Cook on attacking the consistent Yorkers in the death overs. He has also attempted to add variety to his attacking options, like sweeps, reverse sweeps and charging the new-ball bowlers with shots over the inner ring. On Thursday, Justin Kemp also participated. He had a four-week injury lay-off due to a wrist injury, but will represent WP Cricket Club against the University of Cape Town in a club game during the weekend. The West Indian acquisition Pollard will join his team-mates in Johannesburg on Saturday morning, said Clifford Dodgen, the team operational manager of the Cobras. Puttick said on Thursday his quad injury has reacted well to treatment and he will be available to represent the Cobras in the opening match of the RAM SLAM T20 Challenge against The Unlimited Titans at the Wanderers on Sunday.